New Jersey Laborers' Union: Political Action - Political & Legislative Updates

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Political & Legislative Updates

WANTED: UNION CANDIDATES

"With the amount of talent in this union, it is a surprise that we don't have more members serving in elected office," says NJ Laborers' Political Action Committee Administrator Robert Garrison. Indeed, the numbers don't lie. In spite of a membership of more than 20,000 men and women in New Jersey, and a position as one of the most powerful political forces statewide, the NJ Laborers' Union does not have a lot of members serving in public office.

In an effort to buck this trend, the Laborers' Political Action Committee is working with local unions to identify, recruit and encourage union members to run for public office in their local communities. According to Garrison, participating in the political process has always been an important union activity, but the role of the members has almost always been that of an outsider influencing decisions, instead of an insider who is actually making the decisions. "The NJ Laborers' PAC wants to change that," said Garrison.

A chance to learn Considering running for public office and knowing what to do when you run are two different worlds. So in order to bridge the gap and provide useful information to potential candidates, the Laborers' Union is encouraging tomorrow's leaders to participate in the New Jersey State AFL-CIO 6th Annual Labor Candidates School. Held June 7-9, 2002 at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick, Labor Candidates School is offered free of charge to all union members who are considering running for public office and have been nominated by their local union.

During the weekend retreat, political experts will train participants in all aspects of campaigns with topics ranging from fund-raising, message development, and public speaking to media relations and targeting voters. Since 1997, the nationally recognized program has helped 160 union members win election to public office after attending the Labor Candidates School.

Does everyone who goes end up running for public office? The answer is no, but everyone who attends Labor Candidates School comes out of the training knowing what it takes to win. And for those that do run for office, they are far better prepared to do battle on the field of electoral politics.

Have the urge to run? For more information call Robert Garrison at 609-860-9225 or e-mail him at rgarrison@njlaborers.org.

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